Guest Stars:
Marc Alaimo as Dukat
Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun
Max Grodenchik as Rom
Aron Eisenberg as Nog
Salome Jens as Female Changeling
Barry Jenner as Admiral Ross
 

Synopsis:

As Kira and Odo head the secret Bajoran Resistance against the Dominion, a spanner is thrown in the works by the arrival of the mysterious female Changeling, evidently the leader of the Founders. Kira makes it clear to Odo that he cannot trust her, especially given their previous dealings. But Odo is intrigued by what she teaches him of the Great Link and she basically seduces him into linking. When Kira learns of this she expresses deep concern -- he is vital to the Resistance and right now she needs him. She warns him that the Changeling may be trying to manipulate him, but Odo dismisses her concern, promising not to link with her again. Meanwhile, she learns that Damar has found a way to take down the minefield enabling the Dominion to get reinforcments from the Gamma Quadrant. Rom comes up with a way to stop them, by disabling the deflector array. But it's a delicate operation and must be conducted carefully. Odo will disable the sensors, enabling Rom to access the restricted area. It's all planned out carefully, and the operation proceeds smoothly except for one detail -- no Odo.

He is again coerced into linking with the Changeling, breaking his promise to Kira. Kira is shocked when she finds that Odo isn't in his office and hasn't disabled the security grid, she tells Rom not to open the hatch, but it's too late. The alarm goes off and Rom is captured by the Cardassian security. A furious Kira storms into Odo's quarters demmanding to know what happened. She finds a chillingly detached, disinterested Odo who doesn't seem to care that Rom is sitting in a holding cell and that the Dominion will now be able to deactivate the minefield. Millions of people will die, Kira tells him. Realising that he's betrayed her, she leaves, disgusted. The Changeling appears and asks Odo if he's alright. "Did she upset you?" "No...not really," replies the disturbingly distant Odo.

Review: 

(NB: This review is taken from  The Dominion War Arc review)

This is more like it -- a nice, taut return to the war arc. This is the infamous episode where Odo is corrupted by the female Changeling, and betrays Kira. It's certainly fascinating to watch, and very bold, but in retrospect, now that we know that there will be no long-lasting consequences and that Odo will be back to his old self within a fortnight, somewhat dampens the shock factor.

We finally get to see Kira's Resistance cell in action, as they try to provoke the Cardassians and Jem'Hadar into fighting.The teaser, which features Rom and Kira relating how they set up a confrontation between Damar and a bunch of Jem'Hadar works beautifully. But Odo has reservations about their plans, prompting Kira to question his loyalty. Things are complicated further by the arrival of the female Changeling (you know, the one played by Salome Jens), who seems intent to convert Odo back to the Great Link. Surprisingly very little is made of the fact that last time her and Odo saw each other, she'd just turned him into a 'solid'. It is mentioned, though she doesn't seem at all surprised that he's a fully fledged Changeling again, which is interesting. Once again Salome Jens excels at making the Changeling enigmatic, seductive (for Odo at least! ;-) ) and more than a bit unnerving.

As her hold on Odo grows, Kira doesn't notice how dangerous their liaison is getting until it's too late. Odo was to have taken part in a vital plot to stop the Dominion from taking down the minefield, but instead he was "occupied" with the Changeling. Rom, who was attempting to disable the deflectors (or something) was caught and arrested, all because Odo failed to act. Kira storms into his quarters, and she doesn't look at all happy - and that's to put no fine a point on it. He's betrayed her, and the entire Alpha Quadrant. And Odo doesn't seem to care. In fact he's disturbingly disinterested. Ouch. There goes Odo and Kira's friendship. In fact, how can Odo ever be the same again? He's betrayed our people. He's turned the Alpha Quadrant over to the Dominion. Ummm...

The sub-plot nicely balances the main plot, as Sisko is relegated to a desk job at Starfleet HQ. The episode works wonderfully, but it was maybe just too ambitious. Either that or the writers chickened out after they set up the whole Odo/betrayal plot. Well, it lessens the impact of the episode in retrospect, quite considerably. A shame, because it's an otherwise splendid episode.

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